Japan Looks to Denmark for Wind Energy Experience

The offshore wind market in Japan is growing. This increases the demand for external partners with experience in investments, project development and installations of offshore wind farms – experience that Japanese stakeholders are looking to gain from Denmark. This week, Japanese key stakeholders explore the manifestations from the Danish experience by touring key sites and meeting experts from the Danish wind industry.

In a DKK multi-billion project, Japan is preparing for the construction of more than 10 offshore wind farms at various sites around the country – two of these wind farms are currently under construction near the city of Fukushima. Wanting to ensure the best possible results, Japanese stakeholders are looking to Denmark for insight into its wind industry’s experiences and competences.

Welcome to Denmark and introduction to the Danish transition by Anette Kørschen Brænder, State of Green.

Mutual interest between Japan and DenmarkThe interest between the two countries is mutual. In February this year, experts from the Danish wind industry and key Japanese stakeholders met in Tokyo to discuss how Japan can benefit from the Danish experience in offshore wind farms.

The delegates, who are currently traveling around Denmark, consist primarily of managing directors from companies working within the wind industry in relation to either development, construction, consultancy, insurance or weather services. They are visiting various locations in Denmark including the Port of Esbjerg and Anholt Offshore Wind Farm.

Twenty-three companies in five daysAt present, the delegates are almost half-way through their programme.

Their first scheduled visit was to House of Green, State of Green’s interactive showroom and visitors’ centre, where they were introduced to Denmark’s green transition, the Danish wind supply chain and the work of GWO (Global Wind Organisation). The delegation showed an immense interest in each presentation, posing many follow-up questions.

The delegation also got a chance to experience Denmark’s offshore wind sector in real life. They went on a sunny boat tour to the offshore wind farm at Middelgrunden, where the farm’s 20 turbines each have a capacity of 2 MW, or 40 MW all together.

The following day, the delegation travelled to the port of Esbjerg, the leading port for wind power in Europe, they visited the offshore construction jack up ship Bold Tern and met with Falck Safety Services to learn more about safety courses in the wind turbine industry.

Visit to Falck Safety Services for an introduction to safety training in the wind turbine industry.

These visits, however, are just the first of many. The Japanese quests can look forward to another three days of seminars, boat tours, company visits and a tour of an offshore construction site before returning to Japan on Friday.

State of Green is a not-for-profit, public-private partnership from Denmark. We facilitate relations with international stakeholders and are your one-point entry to all leading Danish players working to drive the global transition to a sustainable, low-carbon, resource-efficient society.